DISCOURSE V. The Abuse of the Passions in Religion. IN the two last discourses, we learned the use of the passions in matters of religion, and what advantages may be expected from then, in the christian life : We proceed now to the fourth general; and that is, to enquire into the abuse of the passions in religious concerns, or when the exercise of our affections, in the things of God, may be pronounced irregular, and in what manner they shóùldbe limited and restrained, and put under bet. ter conduct. Abuse I. Then are the passions irregularly exercised, 6° when we suffer them to influence our opinions in religion, and to determine our judgment in any points of faith or practice." The passions were made to be servants to reason, to be governed by the judgment, and to be influenced by truth; but they were never given us to decide controversies, and to determine what is truth, and what is error. Éven the best affections, and those that seem to have astrong tendency toward piety, are not always safe guides in this respect ; yet they are too often indulged to sway the mind in its search after truth or duty, as I shall make it ap- pear in several instances: 1. Suppose a person should be exceedingly affected with the unlimited goodness and abounding grace of God ; if, by this pious affection towards God and his goodness, he is persuaded to think that God has no such severe vengeance for sinful and rebel creatures, and that he will not destroy such multitudes of man- kind in hell as the scripture asserts, or that their punishment shall not be so long and so terrible as God has expresslyde.. Oared ; here the passion of love and esteem for the divine goodness, acts in an irregular manner, for it takes off the eyes of the soul from his awful holiness and his strict justice, and the unknown evil that is in sin. It prevents the mind from giv- ing due attention to God's express word, and to those perfections of the divine nature, and his wise and righteous government, which may demand such dreadful and eternal punishment, for the rebellion of a creature against the infinite dignity of its Cre- ator and Governor. 2. Suppose a christian has most powerful impressions made on the passion of fear by the tremendous ideas of God's majesty, and his punishing justice, and thence he concludes tlirt the great
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